taken to ensure
public safety by responsible agencies after notification by the Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP), typically the national Tsunami Warning
Centre. It includes Standard Operating
Procedures and Protocols
for emergency response
and action, organizations and individuals involved and their roles
and responsibilities, contact information, timeline and urgency assigned to
action, and means by which both ordinary citizens
and special
needs populations (physically or mentally
handicapped, elderly, transient,
and marine populations) will be alerted. For tsunami response, emphasis is placed on the rapidness, efficiency, conciseness,
and clarity of the actions and instructions to the public. A Tsunami Emergency Response Plan should also include post- tsunami actions and responsibilities for search and
rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and recovery.
PTWC issued a tsunami warning in 1986 for an Aleutian Islands earthquake, prompting Hawaii emergency officials to evacuate all low-lying coasts. Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
